Monday, June 29, 2009

Summer vacation officially started this weekend. Jasper has figured out how to unfold the step ladder, drag it to the freezer, and pull out popsicles. He has been up at least until 10:00 every night (thank you, PBS Kids). And he just found out where I hid the candy. It's all over. Kid Armageddon is here.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

We have entered a new era with Jasper's room: the era of construction toys. These are Legos, Playmobil, Bionicle, Lincoln Logs, Bonz, little magnet things, the castle you take apart, and on and on. You can create your dream nursery when your child is a baby--but that baby is going to grow up into a child with opinions about his room's decor, with a preference for toys with hundreds of teeny, tiny plastic parts. And that's where the pretty ends.

True, you can corral all the tiny pieces of plastic into baskets etc., but the real problem is that when Jasper builds something he wants it to remain intact for a while so he can play with it. Because we are an artist family (and the over-indulgent parents of an only child), creations are sacred in our home. They are preserved and protected. And of course, Jasper wants to mix it all up together and keep it all out so he can return to his creations. It's especially difficult to manage in a tiny apartment--especially since his room comprises almost half of our total square footage! When I step into his room I can't help murmuring to myself "the horror...."

Where do you put it all?!?

I picked up a little inspiration from Simon's Room in Ohdeedoh. The little shelf holding the cars looked like just the thing for displaying Lego spaceships. I haven't found one exactly like it, but I did come across an even better solution at Target--a shoe organizer!

The compartments are just the right size to showcase the creations like the little Fabergé eggs that they are. Now his table looks like this:

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Thursday, January 15, 2009

A few weeks ago we saw the Pipilotti Rist installation at the Museum of Modern Art. This is a great show for kids, provided parents are comfortable with some nudity. A video is projected on the walls while there is a giant, round playpen-like seating area in the center where you can lie down and view the video or thow wedge-shaped pillows. All three of us loved it. If you're in New York--with or without kids--be sure to catch this one.

Friday, January 2, 2009

One of Jasper's Christmas presents was a science kit from the Young Science Club, and we were not disappointed. Already we have conducted a fascinating experiment with bacteria. Sure, I never got around to taking Jasper to the Nutcracker this year. But he still got some culture! (har har) Jasper is having a blast with this kit so far.

We couldn't let the holiday break go by without visiting our place of worship, the American Museum of Natural History. The highlight for Jasper is watching the Sea Monsters movie. But he is also fond of the dinosaur chicken nuggets (not too bad with mustard, actually).

I indulged Jasper and bought him a jello parfait with gummy shark and octopus. He had about three bites. And now that I've done that I never have to buy him one ever again.

Tomorrow we're hoping to make it to the New York Hall of Science. Our evil plans to steer Jasper away from a life in the arts are going well so far...(mad scientist cackle--bwa ha ha ha haaaaa!)